Adeleke’s Shock Exit Paves Way for Adedamola’s Victory in Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, triggered major political shockwaves on Monday after formally resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just hours before the party’s governorship primary.

His abrupt exit reshaped the entire contest and opened the path for Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola popularly known as Fryo—to clinch the PDP ticket for the 2026 governorship election.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4 but submitted on December 1, cited persistent national leadership crises within the PDP.

According to reports by Dailypost, his withdrawal came even as his name remained on the printed ballot, although votes cast for him were later nullified.

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Adedamola Wins with 919 Votes

The primary, held on Tuesday at Adolak Hall, Osogbo, saw Adebayo Adedamola win convincingly with 919 votes out of 957 accredited delegates. The electoral committee confirmed that 20 votes were void, leaving Adedamola as the clear and undisputed winner.

Announcing the results, the committee chairman, Humphrey Abba, stated:
“The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and stands elected and returned.”

Adeleke Tight Security and Smooth Voting

Despite fears that Adeleke’s resignation and internal party disputes could derail the exercise, voting proceeded peacefully. Security was significantly strengthened, with personnel from the Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC stationed around the venue to maintain order.

957 out of 990 expected delegates were accredited across all 30 local government areas before the voting commenced.

The national PDP also insisted that the primary must go on despite earlier moves by the Osun chapter to suspend the exercise over unresolved leadership disagreements at the national level.

PDP National Leadership Overrides Local Suspension Attempt

The Osun PDP had initially argued that delegate congresses were incomplete, making the primary invalid. But the national organising secretary, Theophilus Shan, dismissed the suspension attempt, affirming that INEC had been officially notified and that all procedural requirements had been met.

With Adeleke who led the PDP to victory in 2022 no longer in the party, and Adedamola now positioned as the PDP’s new face, Osun politics is entering a new chapter.

His emergence signals not only a shift in the party’s internal structure but also a reshuffling of political alliances ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

Many analysts believe Adeleke’s exit will continue to shape conversations in the coming months, particularly as parties prepare to submit their candidates to INEC.

In the words of a senior PDP official monitoring the exercise:
“This primary shows the party can still deliver a credible process despite internal disagreements.”